Bayplex to close for one to two years

Cape Breton Regional Municipal officials say the Bayplex in Glace Bay will be closing for upwards of two construction seasons while necessary repairs take place.

GLACE BAY - Municipal officials say the Bayplex is unsafe and will be closing for possibly upwards of two years to allow for repairs.

“Yes it has to close,” said Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke.

“It’s a minimum of one year but likely two, two construction seasons.”

Clarke said exactly when it will close is not known yet but will not operate as an arena in the fall.

Shawn MacNeil, owner of Bay Bye Sport located in the Bayplex, said he has been a tenant for 17 years and is sad to hear the Bayplex is closing temporarily.

“There is no way the upgrade work can be done while the facility is open.”

Clarke said further to the emergency repairs carried out at the Bayplex at an earlier date the CBRM did commit to a consulting engineers report.

“It was in the $6 million range to bring the facility up to a proper code, for a proper retrofit of the facility.”

Replacement of the building would cost more than $18-$20 million.

Clarke said the building needs to have a retrofit. Three levels of government agree the work needs to be done.

However municipal staff recently identified another $30,000 in engineering work that has to be done to define costs because of further issues including mold in the facility.

He said the Canada Games Complex will be used as the backup facility since a temporary home for Glace Bay Minor Hockey is needed, the major tenant at the Bayplex.

Clarke said the Bayplex has an outstanding $127,000 power bill and water and other operational costs are owed.

Clarke met with the board.

“We need to have a long term plan to operate and so my immediate concern is getting the information we need so we can made informed decisions and not have the board stressed out on this as these are volunteers.”

He said plans are being discussed that would likely see the municipality take over the Bayplex. Clarke said there would be a facility in Glace Bay.

“There will be a Bayplex in Glace Bay - the question is how much money is needed and how much time to get it back and restored.”

Allan Cooke, chair of the board of the Bayplex, said he met with the staff on Thursday.

“We told them the Bayplex wouldn’t be operating under the current structure starting in September,” he said.

“The board is in the process of restructuring operations and are working closely with the CBRM to find a solution.”

Bayplex manager Clarence Routledge said he's ‘very disappointed’ the Bayplex will not be resuming operations in the fall.

“I feel very disappointed for my workers. We have a dedicated staff,” he said. “We have five union workers and from 10 to 12 part-time. For all of a sudden this to happen is a big shock to them.”

Routledge, who has run the Bayplex for about 21 years, said he tried his best.

“I put a lot of my time, my own personal money and my heart into it as I believe Glace Bay needs a Bayplex,” he said.

Since the Bayplex was built about 21 years ago it has been a struggle from the beginning. First the skylight leaked and then the ice plant was deemed too small for the facility.

For the first 10 to 14 years, the Bayplex received an annual $30,000 operating grant. That was lost after the CBRM gave them $300,000 for dressing rooms as the money had to be paid back over 10 years.

Routledge said most arenas in the CBRM receive municipal assistance and although the Bayplex received some help it was nothing close to what the other arenas received.

“I’m not just talking about this administration but all the past administration mayors and councillors.”

Routledge said this was their worst year yet as they lost the Junior B division to Membertou, GBHS ice time due to the teacher’s strike and they only rented 26 hours of ice to the Vince Ryan tournament compared to the 50 hours at Membertou.

The CBRM could keep the Bayplex going, he added.

“We figured this is an opportunity for the municipality to assume responsibility and take the Bayplex over.”

“If it doesn’t stay open I think there will be a massive amount of people voicing concern.”

James Edwards, chair of the Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association, said

they will be moving to the Canada Games complex at Cape Breton University while renovations are being carried out.

The association will continue with their ice time at Dominion rink.

“We are appreciative to CBU but Glace Bay is our home and we look forward to the time we can resume our operations in Glace Bay.”

He said nothing has changed with their relationship with the Bayplex or the CBRM.

“I’ve met with the CBRM and they couldn’t be more co-operative with us.”

Shawn MacNeil, owner of Bay Bye Sport located in the Bayplex foyer, said he has been a tenant for 17 years.

“It worked great for both parties. It’s going to be sad to move to another location.”

Glace Bay MLA Geoff MacLellan said he has been involved with the Bayplex from the beginning when issues with the building became apparent.

MacLellan said the province will be there 100 per cent with their contribution.

“Over and above the province’s investment in the Bayplex as Glace Bay’s MLA I know how much it means to everyone from minor hockey to festivals, events and weddings. It’s a community facility that’s important to everyone and I’ll do my best to ensure it’s in a healthy state as soon as possible.”